Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. Rethinking The Polarity Map with Dr. Joel Rothaizer
Dec 10, 2025
Dr. Joel Rothaizer, a board-certified organizational psychologist and leadership coach, shares insights on polarity thinking. He explains how understanding concepts like collaboration and decisiveness as polarities can enhance leadership effectiveness. Joel discusses the downsides of over-prioritizing one value, illustrating how this can hinder growth and decision-making. He emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and crafting a personal purpose for balance. Tune in for practical strategies to navigate these complexities in leadership!
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Late Starter Who Ran 31 Marathons
- Joel began distance running at 41 and ran 31 marathons or longer since age 43.
- He even won his age division in a 50-miler where he was the only finisher.
Map Polarity Before You Diagnose
- Do map a polarity by naming the two poles and listing what’s good about each side first.
- Use that map to see how overprivileging one side erodes its own value and harms outcomes.
Bias Eats Its Own Value
- Insight: Overprivileging a value destroys the very benefits you seek from it.
- Joel shows collaborative leaders lose engagement and decisive leaders lose buy-in when they overdo their preference.
